Pacific Games

The park is located on the Sogeri plateau, lying at 600m above sea level and 46km inland.

There are many breathtaking and challenging walks and trails in the Variarata National Park with a network of trails, grassy picnic areas and shelters with barbecues.

The baton enjoyed the stunning views of Port Moresby and out to sea at the lookout.

The relay also caught up with Japanese tourists who were out birdwatching. Wallabies are common and birdlife is plentiful.

Over 500 students circled around the sports oval in their house colours of blue, yellow, blue and green.

Each girl had the chance to touch the baton and cheered with delight as they did so.

Teacher Elsie Obara said the Relay is a historical event and it’s rewarding that the Relay coincides with their sports carnival.

She said they are proud to be part of the Relay and are looking forward to the Games in nine days time.

Before the baton visited Marianville, the students of Laloki ran the baton a half mile from their school to Nature Park.

Central is the 21st province the baton has visited and today marked 91 days of the baton’s 100 days journey throughout the country.

The baton is spending four days in the province before it is handed over to the National Capital District on June 29.

An official welcome ceremony was held at Laloki High School today as the baton was displayed for the people and the Central Provincial Government to see.

Haoda urged the people of Central to welcome the Relay team and happily get involved in the relay.

It is headed by Chef de Mission Eileen Nangan, who said they are ready for the games and have prepared well to challenge the other Pacific Island countries.

“Like all other Pacific Island countries, we all want to go back not empty handed but with pride and happiness and Team Vanuatu will be one of the teams that will be aiming for medals during this game,” she said.

She said the advance  team are here to see for themselves the preparation and also get the feel of the atmosphere and the spirit of the games in the country. 

 PNGDF Commander Gilbert Toropo says he is pleased so far with the training being carried out at the training barracks.

Toropo tells PNG Loop that the next batch will see females become  part of the enlistees while this batch sees  only male recruits in training.

Meantime, the parade tomorrow will begin at 10 am and see the training units pass out to go into their divisional training.

On hand to receive the orders will be about 250 or so personnel that will be gathered at the Correctional service college field to receive Waipo’s official orders.

The officers have under gone training to help in their deployment alongside their police and defence counter parts in the upcoming Pacific Games.

According to the CS public relations units all the training methods that the staff have gone through are in line with their standing orders and will also be to complement the needs of the lead agency, the police.

he distance squad is undergoing a final week of training with coaches Peter Deane, Bernard Manau and Paul Komba at the National Sports Institute in Goroka.

The squad had their last competition before the Games with athletes looking super fit for the athletics competition which is to run from July 13-18.

Middle and long distance runner Kaminiel Matlaun recorded a 54 second first lap in the 800m and went on to record a Pacific leading time of 1min 53.1 seconds.

This was stated by Fiji Association of Sports and National Olympic Committee president Joe Rodan.

Team Fiji will be sending 453 athletes represented in 25 sports.

According to local journalist Anasilini Ratuva, the country is hoping to collect medals in rugby 7s, athletics, netball, soccer, weightlifting, powerlifting, swimming, volleyball, table tennis and Va'a.

He said the counter to this event is that the spirit and goodwill of the games associated with being the host city can do with a big dose of everyone feeling positive, embracing all the cultures and races that make up PNG.

Scovell told PNG Loop that the event is also a time for everyone to identify themselves as one people, one country and celebrate it together.  

He said governments can build and change our infrastructures but it is up to us collectively to change our attitudes and culture.  

Cook Islands coach Alister Stevic said the Cook Islanders though an amateur side have the potential to perform well during the week-long women’s cricket competition in the Pacific Games.

“You do your best as an amateur side. The girls continued training regularly since returning from Japan in 2014. The last 4 months has seen regular weekly dedication from the players including chalking up 3-4 early morning fitness sessions with the Team Manager Carlene Mapu and 3-4 evening training sessions with Coach Patiiamai Ataela,” Stevic said.